As you may expect, The Sims 3 is all about milking EA's mighty cash cow more efficiently – so much so that you now have to click past the online store to even play the game.

However, there are some significant improvements – including a truly open world of linked neighbourhoods, more occupations to try and a new Trait system that provides personal goals and ultimately defines your score.

Graphically, it looks and plays better than ever (albeit at the expense of longer loading times) while the social shenanigans remain inventive, amusing but unashamedly repetitive. Sims 3 won't win many new fans, but it's easily the best in the series – which will doubtless send it storming up the charts.